Like many others posting in these forums I'm learning how GNU/Linux works. But this Linux Mint is by far the easiest to use distro
I've ever come across. I've been playing with Linux for years, since before Fedora but I could never figure out how Linux worked or
could take all the time necessary to learn how it worked. Linux Mint 7 maybe based on Ubuntu 9.04 but it installed and completely configured my hardware better than Ubuntu. I don't know how that happen but it did. As a user coming from Windows, who couldn't afford to buy a Mac, I
just needed an OS that would run my HP 6736nr laptop "out of the box." Really I just needed a choice besides Microsoft. Linux Mint seems like it's
that. Thanks!

P.S. Mint even configured my wireless card... damn! I couldn't get it to work at all in Ubuntu. How is that?!

Later:

(well... maybe Windows wasn't all that bad after all. When something breaks in Linux it takes an BS in Comp Sci degree to find & fix the problem).

Last edited by aaron8 on Sun Aug 09, 2009 9:27 am, edited 2 times in total.

Yay, hardware support is increasing all the time, and it's great to hear another success story. Mint does maintain a tool (mintWifi) designed to use ndiswrapper to help a larger number of wireless cards work.

If you have a question that has been answered and solved, then please edit your original post and put a [SOLVED] at the end of your subject header
Hint - use a google search including the search term site:forums.linuxmint.com

I had Windows Vista and Ubuntu with a small portion to LinuxMINT. Mint has changed my life!

I changed an used Mint for a couple weeks. Being an Architect, I am on the PC a lot.
I love the LinuxMint/Gnome desktop and even found a better CAD program comparible to AutoCAD.
And it didn't cost me 3500$ . . . it was FREE!!

good bye xp and vista !
i am not sure about that really <
what if u are using adsl usb , and using alot of programs . that unix dos not support !
i thing its very early to say good bye win7 at all .
linux easy , as saying easy , but for me i am stick and cannot connect to the net using my adsl .
some toled me to do some things , but its need very good one to it sooh
win still the easy way to preparation . one click ur driver DONE . linux need to know many commands lins that i never like it !
linux have melion copy , ! and mint one of them ,. every OS have his way .also have his lins .. and that look like one country divided to alot of spaces , and every one have own rulls ,.
so if u wanna understand all linux at all u must have another pc to save commands and preparation .
i hope linux beeing the NO1 . but in this ways linux community making i donot thing so , every one made his copy and say wow its the best , i thing the bitter way all working in one copy on comman , one face , its open its easy all do the best .
did u thing that also ?
in last i liked linux cuz its simple too mush BUT its need alot of work to make it in a table u can compare with win xp OR 7 .
maybe if i solved my problem with internet i opine anothe idea , but its now facts ,
thnx all and sorry for my bad english , ( i donot care to make it bitter , cuz i donot like it at all)
peace ,
mohammed

Until about a month ago, I always ran Linux as a second OS, along with XP the main OS. But now Mint is the OS, and XP is only used on the Virtual Machine to run my Twain Scanner.
It's a reduced XP, no updates at all. If I can find a Twain Driver for my scanner, then XP will get pushed over the bridge.

I have been trying different version of Linux for many years and for a while used Mandriva but hardware issues eventually put an end to it. So when I recently tried Linux Mint I had a shock. I installed it on my Laptop and it recognized all the hardware right down to the extra multimedia keys with NO input from me. I then installed on a desktop PC same result all recognized even, (shock horror) my multi purpose printer scanner. To sum it up Linux Mint just works ! Better and easier than an XP install. This is the very thing that is needed to go "toe to toe" with Windows.

I just can't see any good reason to spend money on Windows 7, (I have tried the RC1 ) when Linux Mint does it all. Just to maintain access to some of my old Serif Page Plus docs I have install XP in the Sun Virtual Box which runs well.

Experienced with DOS, WIN, NT & XP over many years, I tried to switch to Ubuntu 3 years ago mainly due to the LiveCD concept.Besides the LiveCD (perused as windows tool), Ubuntu couldn't convince me (and especially my family members) to a full switchover.
When I came across Mint Gloria, with all its implemented codecs, functionality and fantastic look and feel, I finally made the 100% switch (at least privately). I don't need XP anymore, because MInt is so much more!

Never could create pdf-documents with windows because my company didn't want to pay the overpriced license, all this wasted time for reinstalling XP, or risking malware with (keygened) software ...

Similar experience to gees, having tried Red Hat about ten years ago, then Ubuntu every release from 7.04, always going back to XP. Indeed, the path is also quite close: MS-DOS, Windows 3.11, 98SE (kept this as long as possible), XP (kept this as long as possible as well), Vista - ah, the reoccuring nightmares, so I stayed with XP.

I had just recently tried Ubuntu again, then DSL, then Puppy Linux, just feeling my way through them. Linux Mint 6 had a minute in the spot light and was fantastic, then I went version 7, that was the one I stayed with. Installation time was a fraction of XP, Vista or Windows 7 (RC).

Everything with Gloria installed seamlessly, wireless and printers, while Ubuntu gave me grief with wireless. At the end of it I felt a little lost, like I'd forgotten something, partly because of the speed of the installation, then realised there was no need to enter any diabolical alpha-numeric codes or activating the software on-line.

What I found most refreshing was when the desktop appeared, everything seemed to be where I already wanted it. The menu layout is superb.

It's still dual boot, but the XP partition is only for the odd game or two, so I treat that like a console. Everything else I am doing in Linux Mint and that accounts for 95% of computer time.

You defitlity moved in the correct direction. Welcome to Mint. Great forum.

I bought a laptop with Vista Basic some months ago. After using it for about three hours, I replaced Vista with Mint 7. Not having used Windows for nearly five years, I found out again how complex Windows is to deal with.
My stepson bought the identical laptop from Walmart a couple months before me and really wishes he had his XP laptop again. It was not as bad as Vista. Vista has a way of annoying him at times. Still cannot convince him to try Mint.
Yes, Failure is not an option, it comes bundled with every Microsoft product.
If you are a good software techie, you most probably can handle Windows with little issues. Most Windows users cannot.

Congrats on moving to Mint. I am going to say a couple of things though. I use Linux for pretty much everything. Have for a couple of years. But if you have the HDD space why not let Windows reside on it for when you do need it. I personally use it for games. Yes, you can use Wine to run games but it's a heck of a lot easier to run it natively on Windows. Especially like new games (Aion anyone?). I say use all the OS's you can. It' good to be well versed in them.

I haven't given up windows completely but everyyear it gets closer and closer.

I've tried Ubuntu but didn't like the layout & didn't find it user friendly at all. Then I found Freespire (RIP) built on Ubuntu and it rocked and now Linux Mint, which is even better than FS. Love the Mint menu, hardware support, compiz etc.

IMHO I think M7 rivals Vista and win7. Great GUI, 3D effects but even better it flies on my Dell box with only 512Mb RAM, Vista crawls on a 1Gb (actually bouoght a Vista laptop last year but it was so much slower than Freespire & winXP on 1Gb that I sold it on straight away).

I too am new to any version of Linux, my first encounter was at the advice of friend, I need to recover files from a dead Windows system. I was told to try running a live Linux CD. I downloaded a copy on Mint 7, burned to a disc & used it to boot the laptop. Within a minute or so of starting up Mint 7 found all of the hardware & was even able to connect to my wireless network. It took a few minutes to figure out where the files I wanted were, I was able to copy all to a usb hdd. Decided Mint 7 was a keeper. I have this in a dual boot with Vista, there were issues with that, (problem posted elswhere).
I don't know if this will ever be able to completely replace Windows; at least not in the commerical market, I think they are just too entrenched with both software & hardware manufacturers. Most companies don't want to have to re-train employees on new computer systems.
For home users, this just maybe the answer that budget minded consumers are looking for. I priced it out, I can build a respectable system with decent performance, all of the applications any high school or college student would need for under 500.00, a comparable Windows system with those applications would be well over 1000.00. Hmmm, Christmas is coming, nice gift for the grandkids!
Enjoy,
Ed

I agree that Linux MINT can easily take on Windows and is ready for wide home user adoption. The main obstacle to wide adoption in the part of the world I live in is that Windows here is almost "open source" by that I mean pirate version of windows can be bought openly in supermarkets ect for a 1 or 2 $ and as a result many people I know just consider windows to be in effect free ! This in my opinion has hurt LINUX, (and probably helped Microsoft), if people had actually pay for Windows then they may be forced to try LINUX and find out just how good it is and never look back. The same goes for Open Office why on earth would anyone pay for Mircrosoft Office when Open Office can do the same for free.